2021 Northern Illinois Huskies football team explained

Year:2021
Team:Northern Illinois Huskies
Sport:football
Conference:Mid-American Conference
Division:West Division
Short Conf:MAC
Record:9–5
Conf Record:6–2
Head Coach:Thomas Hammock
Hc Year:3rd
Off Coach:Eric Eidsness
Oc Year:3rd
Def Coach:Derrick Jackson
Dc Year:3rd
Stadium:Huskie Stadium
Champion:MAC champion
MAC West Division co-champion
Conf Champ:MAC Championship Game
Conf Champ Result:W 41–23 vs. Kent State
Bowl:Cure Bowl
Bowl Result:L 41–47 vs. Coastal Carolina

The 2021 Northern Illinois Huskies football team represented Northern Illinois University as a member of the West Division of the Mid-American Conference (MAC) during the 2021 NCAA Division I FBS football season. Led by third-year head coach Thomas Hammock, the Huskies compiled an overall record of 9–5 with a mark of 6–2 in conference playing, sharing the MAC's West Division title with Central Michigan. By virtue of a head-to-head win over Central Michigan, Northern Illinois advanced to the MAC Championship Game and defeated Kent State to win the program's six MAC championship.[1] The Huskies invited to the Cure Bowl, where they lost to Coastal Carolina on December 17.[2] [3] The team played home games at Huskie Stadium in DeKalb, Illinois.

On November 9, the school announced that Hammock had signed a contract extension through the 2026 season.[4] With their win over Buffalo on November 17, the Huskies clinched the West Division championship and a berth in the MAC Championship Game.[5]

Offseason

Transfers

As a result of the limited season in 2020 due to COVID-19, the NCAA granted a waiver to allow athletes to transfer to another school and be eligible immediately without having to sit out a season.[6] In April 2021, the NCAA further made one-time transfers for all college athletes to be eligible immediately.[7] As a result, transfers were much more common this year than in prior years.

Michigan State quarterback Rocky Lombardi, who started six games for the Spartans in 2020, announced he would transfer to Northern Illinois.[8] [9]

Preseason

In the league's annual preseason poll, the Huskies were picked to finish in last place in the West.[10]

Schedule

The Huskies played Maine and Wyoming at home while traveling to Georgia Tech and Michigan for non-conference games in 2021.[11] [12]

[13] [14]

Game summaries

At Georgia Tech

See also: 2021 Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets football team.

Statistics NIU GT
First downs 15 25
Total yards 301 429
Rushes/yards 42/165 52/273
Passing yards 136 156
Passing: Comp–Att–Int 11–17–0 15–26–0
Time of possession 28:55 31:05
Team Category Player Statistics
Northern Illinois Passing 11–17, 136 yards, 2 TD
Rushing Harrison Waylee 27 carries, 144 yards, 1 TD
Receiving Tyrice Richie 2 receptions, 64 yards
Georgia Tech Passing Jordan Yates 12–18, 135 yards, 1 TD
Rushing 20 carries, 99 yards
Receiving Malachi Carter 6 receptions, 92 yards

At Central Michigan

See also: 2021 Central Michigan Chippewas football team.

style=Pregame line!style=Over/under
CMU –6.0 56.0
Statistics Northern IllinoisCentral Michigan
First downs 25 25
Total yards 548 500
Rushing yards 197 189
Passing yards 351 311
Turnovers 0 1
Time of possession 36:09 23:51
Team Category Player Statistics
Northern IllinoisPassingRocky Lombardi17/27, 348 yards, 3 TDs
RushingJay Ducker31 carries, 183 yards
ReceivingTrayvon Rudolph6 receptions, 160 yards, 2 TDs
Central MichiganPassingDaniel Richardson23/36, 289 yards, 3 TDs
RushingLew Nichols III22 carries, 192 yards, 2 TDs
ReceivingKalil Pimpleton6 receptions, 130 yards, 1 TD

At Kent State

See also: 2021 Kent State Golden Flashes football team.

style=Pregame line!style=Over/under
KENT –3.5 72.0
Statistics Northern IllinoisKent State
First downs 32 31
Total yards 663 682
Rushing yards 131 360
Passing yards 532 322
Turnovers 1 0
Time of possession 35:0424:56
Team Category Player Statistics
Northern IllinoisPassingRocky Lombardi33/57, 532 yards, 3 TDs
RushingJay Ducker19 carries, 101 yards, 2 TDs
ReceivingTrayvon Rudolph14 receptions, 309 yards, 3 TDs
Kent StatePassingDustin Crum20/30, 322 yards, 2 TDs
RushingMarquez Cooper23 carries, 173 yards, 2 TDs
ReceivingDante Cephas5 receptions, 124 yards

Ball State (Bronze Stalk Trophy)

See also: 2021 Ball State Cardinals football team and Bronze Stalk Trophy.

style=Pregame line!style=Over/under
BALL –3.0 59.0
Statistics Ball StateNorthern Illinois
First downs 17 26
Total yards 372 475
Rushing yards 246 211
Passing yards 126 264
Turnovers 0 2
Time of possession 23:1636:44
Team Category Player Statistics
Ball StatePassingDrew Plitt11/26, 126 yards, 1 TD
RushingCarson Steele21 carries, 109 yards
ReceivingJalen McGaughy1 reception, 45 yards
Northern IllinoisPassingRocky Lombardi23/38, 264 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT
RushingJay Ducker24 carries, 155 yards, 1 TD
ReceivingTrayvon Rudolph8 receptions, 108 yards

Vs. Kent State (MAC Championship game)

See also: 2021 Kent State Golden Flashes football team and 2021 MAC Championship Game.

style=Pregame line!style=Over/under
KENT –3.5 75.5
Statistics Kent StateNorthern Illinois
First downs 24 28
Total yards 391 368
Rushing yards 195 266
Passing yards 196 102
Turnovers 2 1
Time of possession 19:59 40:01
Team Category Player Statistics
Kent StatePassingDustin Crum11/21, 128 yards, 1 TD, 2 INTs
RushingXavier Williams8 carries, 93 yards
ReceivingDante Cephas7 receptions, 102 yards
Northern IllinoisPassingRocky Lombardi7/15, 102 yards, 1 INT
RushingJay Ducker29 carries, 146 yards
ReceivingTrayvon Rudolph3 receptions, 50 yards

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Northern Illinois easily beats Kent State to win fifth MAC championship. December 7, 2021. sports.yahoo.com.
  2. Web site: Helwick. Steve. December 5, 2021. Northern Illinois will play Coastal Carolina in the 2021 Cure Bowl. December 7, 2021. Hustle Belt.
  3. Web site: December 5, 2021. MAC Champion NIU Huskies to play in Tailgreeter Cure Bowl. December 7, 2021. MyStateline.com.
  4. Web site: November 9, 2021. Northern Illinois extends Hammock thru 2026. November 19, 2021. ESPN.com.
  5. Web site: 2021-11-17. NIU Huskies Beat Buffalo, Clinch Mac West Division. November 19, 2021.
  6. Web site: Coleman. Madeline. NCAA to Grant D-I Transfer Athletes Immediate Eligibility This Year. September 22, 2021. Sports Illustrated.
  7. Web site: Dellenger. Ross. The NCAA's Transfer Revolution Is Here. September 22, 2021. Sports Illustrated.
  8. Web site: Michigan State transfer QB Rocky Lombardi leads Northern Illinois to upset win over Georgia Tech. November 19, 2021. 247Sports.
  9. Web site: December 27, 2020. QB Lombardi transfers to N. Illinois from MSU. November 19, 2021. ESPN.com.
  10. Web site: MAC Announces 2021 Preseason Media Football Poll. November 19, 2021. getsomemaction.com.
  11. Web site: Kelley. Kevin. March 9, 2018. NIU to play at Kentucky in 2022, adds games vs. Maine and EIU. July 21, 2021. FBSchedules.com.
  12. Web site: NIU's 2021 Football Schedule Features Six Home Games. July 1, 2021. NIU Athletics.
  13. Web site: 2021 Northern Illinois Football Schedule . FBSchedules.com . February 16, 2021.
  14. Web site: 2021 Northern Illinois Huskies Schedule and Results. November 19, 2021. College Football at Sports-Reference.com.